Improvement in piano-action rails



Patented Ian. 13. 1874.

T. KATER.

` Piano Action-Rails.

'UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICET THOMAS KATER, OF HAMILTON, CANADA.

IMPROVEMENT IN PIANO-ACTION RAILS.

Sprcilication forming part of Letters Patent No. 146,460, dated January 13,1874; application filed December 27,1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS KATER, of Hamilton, in the county of VentWOrth, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Regulating- Rails for Piano- Fortes, ot` which the following is a specification:

This invention has for its object to improve upon the construction ofthe regulating-rail employed in pianos to receive the buttons or stops which serve to disengage the jacks from the hammer-butts, in order to render the same more durable than the ordinary rails, and to permit ot a greater adjustment ofthe regulating-buttons. The invention consists in forming in the under side of the regulating-rail a series of seats or recesses, which are designed to receive the regulating-lmttons, so as to enable the same to be adjusted to a greater degree for always securing uniform blows of the hammer withoutnecessitating the cutting away of the heel of thejaeks, or the application of a thinner-regulating-button, which is the ordinary mode heretofore practiced for securing a like result. The invention further consists in recessing the top of the rail in line with the reg ulating-button seats, the ref gulating` screws or stems passing through said seats, the object being to enable the regulating-buttons to be adjusted to their full extent by causing the adjusting key or implement usually employed to turn the regulating-screws to enter said seats or recesses. The invention also consists in providing1 a regulating-rail, which possesses an enlarged front edge and tapering rear edge, with a series of seats or recesses formed in the top and bottom sides of said enlarged front edge, and made separate and independent from each other, being` separated by a thickness of wood, so as not to impair the strength or `firmness oi the regulatingrail, said recesses being designed to receive the regulating-buttons when adjusted vertically to their greatest extent in 'an upward direction, and the heads of the regulating-screws when turned to their full extent in a downward direction, so as to render possible a more extensive adjustment ot' the regulating-button.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of a piano-action, showing the relative arrangement of my improved regulating-rail. Fig. 2 is a transverse section ofthe regulating-rail, showing the seats and regulatingbutton in position. Fig. 3 is a sectional longitudinal view of the regulatingrail, showing the series of separate top and bottom recesses for the regulating-buttons an d heads of the screws.

The letter A designates the frame or base piece of a piano-frame to which the keys B are pivoted at O, the front ends of the keys being combined with the pins a and cushions b in the usual manner. The action is of the ordinary construction, D representing the jack, E the hammer, F the stem, G the hammer-butt,

H the butt-flan ge, and I the back check, which is located at the rear end of the key.

In ordinary piano-actions it is customary to employ a regulating-rail, and buttons for disengaging the jacks from the hammer-butts, and said butts are usually adjusted by a screw, so as to maintain the hammers in their proper relative positions in respect to the strings. Then the buttons have reached the limit of their vertical movement by coming in contact with the under side of the regulating-rail, a further adjustment of the buttons in respect to the heels of the jacks is only possible by cutting away a portion of the latter, or by applying thinner buttons. These expedients are defective and unsatisfactory, for the heel of the jack, being repeatedly cut away, soon loses its original strength and polish.

In order to avoid the objections stated, and

furthermore to furnish a regulating-rail which shall be more durable and stronger in construction than the ordinary rail, I propose to construct the rail K of a single piece, made ot' twice the thickness, more or less, of the ordinary rail at its front edge, the rear top portion of the rail being beveled oft' or cut at an angle to receive the ordinary hammer-stem cushions.

The rail itselil is ofthe usual form or eurvature to cause it to conform to the shape ofthe piano-frame, and is attached at its ends to the side cheeks M, and at intermediate points to the ordinary props.

By forming the rail in one solid piece, as shown, I obtain a greater strength vand durability, and dispense yalso with the separate cushion blocks heretofore employed. The blows of the keys transmitted by the jacks to the regulating-rail causes the rails of the ordinary construction, which are made comparA ativel y thin at their front edges, to jar or yield, while in my invention, the rail being made solid and thick at the point where t-he jacks strike the same, no such result need be apprehended, as it is perfectly rigid and non-yielding. The regulating-buttons N for limiting the upward movement of the jacks and for disengaging the same from. the hammer-butts, are applied to the regulating-rail in the same general manner as heretofore practiced.

rlhe buttons, as heretofore arranged, when adjusted to their full extent, come in contact with the under surface of the rail, when it is impossible to obtain a greater adjustment of the `same without necessitating the cutting away ofthe heels of the jacks, or the employment of a thinner button. ln my invention, however, I provide means for adjusting the buttons until their lower ends are ilush with the lower surface of the regulating-rail, and this result I accomplish by formingin the base of the rail a series of seats or recesses7 O, corresponding, in size and diameter with the buttons, :for attaining in an effectual degree as great an adjustment of the regulatiiig-buttons as is found necessary. rlhe top ofthe regulating-rail is provided with a series of recesses, I), which are arranged inline with the buttonseats, a suliicient amount of wood being left between the two seats to hohl the threads of the regulatingscrew employed for adjusting the button. Q represents said screw, which may be of the ordinary construction-that is, provided with an eye at its upper end for the reception of a turning implement, or the screw may be extended and terminate in a square shank or arbor for receiving a key similar to that used for tuning pianos.

By thus providing` the top seats the rail can be made thick, as described, for the implementforturning theregulating-button. Screws can be inserted into said seats in order to turn the screws to their full extent in a downward direction.

I claim as my inventionl. A regulating-rail for pianos, provided with a series of recesses or seats in its under side to receive the regulating-buttons for securing a greater degree of adjustment in an upward direction, substantially as set forth.

2. A regulating-rail for pianos, provided f wit-h a series of seats or recesses in its upper side to receive the button-regulating screws for securing the greatest possible degree of adjustment of the same in a downward direction, substantially as described.

3. A regulating-rail for pianos, formed with an enlarged front edge, provided with a series of recesses on its top and bottom, to receive the heads and buttons of the regnlatin g-screws, as the same are depressed or raised, substantially as described, for the purpose specitied.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 27th day of December, 1873.

THOMAS RATER.

Witnesses:

J Aims L. Noaais, ALBERT H. NoRRis. 

